Washing-machine.



Patented Aug. 7, I900.

H E. SMITH.

' WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oqt. 28, 1.899.)

(H0 Model.)

m: Norms PEYKRS on VHOTO-LTIHQ. WASHNGYON, o. c.

'rnn STATES 1 item Prion HAMILTON E. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters yatenti No. 655,587, dated August '7, 1900.

Application filed October 28, 1899. Serial No. 735 415. iliomodel.)

T0 allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAMILTON E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in IVashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing-niachines of the kind employing an oscillating agitator,

such as shown in my Patent No. 183,717, dated October 24, 187 6, and has for its object to provide an adjustable .partition operating between the two radial wings, whereby the amount of agitation to which the garments or other articles being washed are subjected may be varied as circumstances may require.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a machine embodying my invention. Fig. .5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the agitator, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the adjustable partition.

.The reference-numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical casin g having a door 2, affording access to the interior. Within this casing is mounted the agitator 3. Said agitator comprises two circular perforated heads "L, which are rigidly connected by'two curved perforated blades or wings 5, which converge from the periphery of said heads toward a point outside of their common center. The inner edges of these blades do not meet, however, a space 6 being left between them, in which works the adj ustable partition 7. Said partition is provided along its upper edge with a rounded head 8 to present a smooth surface for the articles being washed to pass over. The ends of the partition 7 work in radial guides 9, provided, respectively, in the inner side of each head 4. On the inner side of each head 4 and at a point more or less removed from their peripheries is secured a lug 10, having a s 'rewthreaded aperture in which works an adjusting-screw 11, having secured on its inner end ahead 12, engaging in a locking recess 13, formed in the outer edge of thcpartition 7, near the end thereof. 13y turning the screws 11 in one direction or the other the partition 7 maybe raised or loweredthat is, its rounded or inner edge may be moved toward or from the axial line ot the agitator. The purpose of this will be at once apparentf -When the agitator is in place in the casing 1, the blades or wings 5 serve to divide the interior thereof into two compartments, as it were, and as the agitator is oscillated the articles being washed are alternately thrown from one compartment into the other, sliding over first one blade 5 and then the other, these blades being preferabl y corrugated, as shown. By raising the partition 7 above the inner edges of the blades or wings 5 it will be seen that a greater re sistanee is oifered to the passage or fall of the articles from one side of the agitator to the other, and the agitation to which they are subjected is therebyincreased. B'y lowering said partition the agitation will be correspond ingly diminished.

It will be noted that I curve the wings or blades 5 instead of having them straight, as in my patent referred to. In practice I find that the straight wings or blades tend somewhat to force the goods in a body against the sides of the case and carry them up in a compact form, while the curved wings'or blades,

on the other hand, will pass under the goods more readily and operate to throw them loosely to the other side of the casing,thus preventing the formation of a roll or pack, which would prevent the suds from passing t'reely through the fabric. It will be apparout, however, that the wings or blades may be made straight or curved, as desired, although the latt-er construction is to be preferred and is the one illustrated in the drawlugs.

I have not herein shown the mechanism for oscillating the agitator, as any preferred means for doing this may be adopted, and in practice I use substantially the same means shown in my patent referred to.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new isv1, In a washing-machine, the combination 3. In a Washing-machine, the combination with an oscillating agitator comprising two clrcular heads connectedby two con-verging .wings or blades, of a movable partition working between said wings or blades, and means for adjusting-said partition comprising a lug on each head having a screw-threaded aperture and a screw working in each of said apertures and operatively connected wi th said partition, substantially as described.

-4. An agitator for washing-machines eomprising two circular heads connected by two converging wings or blades, an adjustable with an oscillating agitator having two converging curved wings or blades, of an adjust able partition working between said blades, substantially as and for the purpose described. 1

6. An agitator for washing-machines comprising two circular hea'ds connected by two converging curved wings or blades, an adj ustable partition working between said wings or blades, and means for adjusting said partition, substantially as and for the purpose described. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HAMILTON E. SMITH. Witnesses: v

GEO. W. HUNT, THUS. J. HUNT. 

